Give me your hand

Give me your hand
And I will save you
I will help you with your worries
And wipe away your tears

Give me your hand
And I will show you the truth
Guide you to the light
And help you through

Give me your hand
And I will lift you out of the dark
I'll fill your heart with light
And wash away your pain

Give me your hand
And I will pray for you
Ask for the lord to help
And he will watch over you

Give me your hand
And I will show you
That love is held by your family
And we are here to support you

Give me your hand
And you can cry on my shoulder
Spill the worries
And wash away your fear

Give us your hand
And we will help you
As friends or as family
But somehow you will survive

Quaker Haven

Well, it looks like so far we have five teens going to the second session in July. I am so happy about that. I will mail the registration forms and checks out on Monday so please bring all of the paperwork to me on Sunday. So far we have Lance, Brooke, Alex, Kayla and Casey. Still waiting to hear from the rest. Once we get them all signed up and ready to go we will work out the details of transportation and such. This is so awesome!

Update

Just thought I'd update you on a few things. First of all, Peggy is just holding her own but of course is in the dying process. The family put a CD player in her room playing some of the old time Gospel Hymns sung by the Gaithers. When that started playing, there was a peace that came over her face. Her passing is in God's Hands now and we as a family are there and supporting each other and her.

Second, I thought I'd tell you about another sad incident. Our Chris's wife, Leslie has a grandfather who Chris has become very close to. They have been best buds! A couple of weeks ago, "Gramps" as they call him had to go in and have a 7 bypass heart surgery. He is on our prayer list. Mr. Endsley. I went in to see him yesterday and we had a nice visit, but I could tell he wasn't feeling well. The family got a call at 10:00 last night that they had gone in to take his vitals and he had stopped breathing. So they did CPR for over an hour and finally brought him back. But, in the end, it left him "brain dead". I was with the family this morning and prayed with them as they had to make the decision to withdraw life support and let him go. Chris called this afternoon and said "Gramps" passed away and the family has asked me to do his funeral.

I'm telling you this to ask for your prayers. As you know, this was supposed to be a vacation for Paulette and I, but it hasn't turned out that way and our lives are in turmoil right now. We would really appreciate your prayers as we go through all of this. I'll post and let you know when Peggy passes and goes to be with the Lord.

Quaker Haven

June 20-25
July 11-16

Those are the two sessions for Quaker Haven Senior High (9th Grade-Grads)Camp
The Cost is $240
A $50 Deposit will need to be turned in by May 25th along with the registration form.

Information packets were sent home last Thursday after Youth Group Or you can download them off of the Quaker Haven website.  www.quakerhaven.com
Make checks payable to Quaker Haven Camp
All remaining balances are due upon arrival at camp.

So, I guess we need to decide based on who wants to go and when they are available which session to choose. Money wise it probably makes more sense for the kids to go to the second session this year. But with family vacations and summer sports schedules it may not be that simple.

I would like to hear from everyone who has a teen if they are interested in going to camp this summer and if so which session works best for them and we will see where we end up.

You may comment on this post if that is easiest for you. You may email me at haemmertime1@aol.com or you can call me at 317-691-2329.

Camp is expensive but it is also an awesome experience that should be taken advantage of if at all possible.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas or comments.

Here is the list of teens who I need to hear from about camp so we can make a quick deccision about which session and start preparing for camp!
Ty
Jaxon
Michaela
Casey
Elyssa
AlexBrooke
Lance
Did I forget anyone?
Please let me apologize for pulling this together so last minute. But we still have a chance to make it if we want to do this so just let me know which session works for you and we will go from there!
Thank You
Kelly Haemmerle

God Has A Way

God has a way of working it out,
everything that you're worried about.
So don't be discouraged and don't ever doubt,
'cause God has a way of working it out.

When the pressures of life are too hard for you,
when you feel forsaken,
nobody knows what you're going through.

And just when you think you can't take anymore,
God will always open a door,
yes, He will, yes, He will.

Well, I know you feel brokenhearted,
life's taken a downward spin;
but God's gonna do just what He promised,
His word declares that we win.

God has a way of working it out,
everything that you're worried about.
So don't be discouraged and don't ever doubt,

'cause God has a way...
'Cause God has a way of working it out.
God has a way of working it out.

Written by: Martha Munizzi

Update on Peggy

After Church yesterday, I received a call from Peggy's daughter about the current situation with her. After meeting with doctors and reviewing her living will, it was decided to withdraw her feeding tube and she will be put in hospice tomorrow and begin receiving morphine. Her lungs are beginning to fill with fluid due to her heart not pumping fast enough, so it appears that her life is nearing an end. While I was with the family and my Dad yesterday, my Dad had one of his spells and we had to lay him down until he recovered from it. We all insisted that he CANNOT drive now, so I will be transporting him back and forth to the hospital. I take him tomorrow for more tests at the hospital to try to find out what is causing these terrible spells he is having. So we all need your prayers as we go through this rough time in the days ahead.

I am a rainbow

I am a rainbow
Brought about by confusion
Of light and dark
Rain and sunshine

I am a rare beauty
I show the world
A combination of colors
So take from me what you will

I spread the joy
In ways people can't imagine
As soon as you see me in the sky
A smile appears on your face

I am a symbol of love
I create joyfulness
I repair your hope
And I am yours

New John Mayer song

Sometimes I hear a song on the radio and I think it's a Gospel song but it's not, at least I don't think it is. But when I heard this song I immediately thought of how this sometimes describes my Christian walk. When my priorities, or my agenda gets in front of what is truly important. Loving Jesus with my whole heart. Not just half. It's called Half of My Heart by John Mayer and I'm pretty sure he wrote it about a girl, but maybe not.


I was born in the arms of imaginary friends
free to roam, made a home out of everywhere I've been
then you come crashing in, like the realest thing
trying my best to understand all that your love can bring

oh half of my heart's got a grip on the situation
half of my heart takes time
half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you
that I can't keep loving you
oh, with half of my heart

I was made to believe i'd never love somebody else
I made a plan, stay the man who can only love himself
lonely was the song I sang, 'til the day you came
showing me a better way and all that my love can bring

oh half of my heart's got a grip on the situation
half of my heart takes time
half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you
that I can't keep loving you
oh, with half of my heart
with half of my heart

your faith is strong
but I can only fall short for so long
time will hold, later on
you will hate that I never gave more to you than half of my heart
but I can't stop loving you
but I can't stop loving you
but I can't stop loving you with half of my...

half of my heart
half of my heart

half of my heart's got a real good imagination
half of my heart's got you
half of my heart's got a right mind to tell you
that half of my heart won't do

half of my heart is a shotgun wedding to a bride with a paper ring
and half of my heart is the part of a man who's never really loved anything

half of my heart
half of my heart
half of my heart
half of my heart
half of my heart
half of my heart

From Annette VanWinkle

" The Room."

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.

Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.

One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards...

But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes... No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own.. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes.

Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him.. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.

The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards.. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written..

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of your selves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.  Eph. 2:8-9

(written by Josh Harris) 

From Annette VanWinkle

Sometimes we wonder, 'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?' Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'
'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.
'Yuck' says her daughter.
'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'
'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?'
'Mom, those are all yucky!'
To which the mother replies: 'Yes , all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.
-- Winnie the Pooh

I can last two months on a good compliment.
-- Mark Twain

f the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.
-- Winnie the Pooh

When your heart speaks, take good notes.
-- Judith Cambell
You have within you, right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.
-- Brian Tracy

You haven't lost your smile at all, it's right under your nose. You just forgot it was there.
-- Author Unknown

Youth Group

Youth Group is tomorrow (Thursday~ May 13) at 6:00 at the Haemmerle's (6224 Buttonwood Drive) In South Harbour. We will be deciding on a name so bring your ideas! Feel free to bring treats to share if you'd like. Please call Will or Kelly if you have any further questions. See You there!

Prayer Needed

Just wanted to let you all know that Dad's wife, Peggy suffered a major stroke yesterday and it has left her paralyzed on her left side and unable to talk. The prognosis doesn't look good for her, so just asking for your prayers this morning for her and all of the family as we go through this trial.